How Ellie Found Out Joel Killed The Fireflies in The Last of Us and Why It Changed Everything

by

Caution: The following content includes spoilers from the fifth episode of The Last of Us season 2 and The Last of Us Part II. Enjoy with care!

In the fifth episode of season 2 from the series “The Last of Us”, Ellie discloses to Nora that she’s aware Joel was responsible for the Fireflies’ deaths, contrary to what he had maintained throughout the season. Although there are some deviations in crucial aspects, episode 5 of “The Last of Us” season 2 accurately portrays the scene where Ellie infiltrates the Wolves’ hospital, catches Nora off guard, and grills her for Abby’s location. This episode subtly introduces spores at the beginning to create the backdrop for Ellie’s intense interrogation. As Nora succumbs to a spore infection, Ellie remains unaffected, breathing deeply without any signs of distress.

In the same vein as a game scenario, Nora subtly urges Ellie to contemplate Joel’s actions and grasp that, from their point of view, he was entitled to retribution. She discloses to Ellie that Joel had killed everyone in the hospital and denied mankind a cure, but Ellie has previously been aware of this fact. Whenever Ellie’s strained relationship with Joel is brought up during the series, she subtly hinted that she was unsure about how their bond deteriorated or what caused Joel to feel such regret. However, it now appears that she had always known the truth. So, one might wonder, how did she learn about this secret?

Ellie Reveals To Nora That She Knows What Joel Did To The Fireflies In The Last Of Us Season 1

Nora Assumes Ellie Doesn’t Know The Whole Story

The captivating aspect of the narrative in the video game “The Last of Us Part II” lies in its complexity, where no characters are purely heroic or villainous, and moral lines are blurred. Every character believes they’re fighting for what’s right, even if their actions may seem unjust to others. For instance, Joel, in his own account, “saved” Ellie by preventing the Fireflies from extracting a cure from her without her consent, which ultimately led to the death of Abby’s father. In retaliation, Abby pursued and killed Joel as an act of vengeance for her late father. Later, Ellie embarked on a journey to seek “justice” for Joel’s murder.

In the hospital basement, when Nora is pinned down by Ellie during a fatal coughing spell caused by inhaling spores, she tries to explain her point of view. Since Ellie was unconscious during the Salt Lake City incident, Nora believes she may not be fully aware of the entire story. As the series hasn’t provided contrary evidence, we, as viewers, share this suspicion. However, when Nora speaks, Ellie simply states, “I know,” followed by, “I don’t care.” This indicates that Ellie is indeed aware of Joel’s massacre of the Fireflies and their desire for retribution, but it holds no significance for her.

How Ellie Found Out About Joel Killing The Fireflies In The Last Of Us Part 2 Game

Ellie Went Back To The Fireflies’ Hospital To Learn The Truth

In the video game, Ellie’s relentless quest for vengeal in Seattle is punctuated by several significant flashbacks that offer insights into the last few years of her relationship with Joel. The first flashback captures them contentedly together shortly after they settled in Jackson. The second one shows Ellie pulling away as her skepticism towards Joel deepens. The third one discloses a prior event where she escaped from Jackson, returned to the hospital in Salt Lake City, and amassed enough proof to uncover the truth.

In this scenario, Ellie discovers remnants at the deserted hospital, including documents, traces of blood, scans of her brain, notes about a cure-extraction process, and a vital voice message from another doctor, all left behind by the Fireflies. Upon Joel’s arrival, an emotionally charged Ellie insists he shares everything with her. Overwhelmed by the revelation, she swears to sever their bond and never engage with him again, explaining the origins of their enigmatic estrangement.

How Long Has Ellie Known The Truth About Joel Saving Her Life?

The Flashback Takes Place Two Years Before The Main Story

In the video game “The Last of Us,” a flashback scene occurs that is set two years prior to the primary narrative. However, the game itself has a time skip of four years, while the TV series jumps five years ahead. This suggests that the timing for the flashbacks in season 2 of the TV show might deviate from the original game timeline.

Read More

2025-05-12 08:55